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Whitby Goth Weekend 2018

It’s nearly time for the spring Whitby Goth Weekend 2018!

We thought we’d give you a quick overview of the events that are lined up for the weekend and share a little bit about the history of this long standing local event.

The line up

There’s a great line up in store for you this spring. The event is accessible for both adults and children, though it’s recommended that children wear ear protection if they’re going to the music performances, and it is at their parent’s discretion.

But how did it all start?

The Whitby Goth weekend started back in 1994 and spent its first few years of life as an annual event. It began when founder Jo Hampshire, of Top Mum Promotions, sat in Elsinor Pub thinking up a way to meet with distant pen friends.

The town, having long been a favourite for goths, was the perfect place to host the events thanks to the Gothic architecture and connections to Dracula.The Elsinor pub is still a crowd favourite for a drink over the weekend thanks to its role in the weekend’s origins.

Until 1997, the event ran once a year, until it became so popular that the organisers decided to host it twice a year, with an event in April and October.

The weekend now draws around 1,500 people each time and is known world-wide as one of the most popular Goth music events.